Badge Tap to Browser: Imprivata Web SSO on IGEL OS Redefines Shared Access

There is not a single moment that defines clinical computing, but a long progression of improvements that over time change the equation. A clinician walks up to a shared workstation, taps a badge, and expects everything to be ready. Not eventually. Immediately.

That moment has traditionally depended on a tightly coupled stack. Identity, session, and endpoint all bound to a Windows desktop.

Today, that changes.

IGEL now supports Imprivata Web Single Sign-On (SSO) on a non-Windows platform for the first time, bringing badge-based authentication directly into the browser layer on the IGEL Adaptive Secure Endpoint OS Platform. And with that shift, the shared workstation becomes something simpler, faster, and far more aligned with how applications are delivered today.

Identity Meets the Browser

Imprivata has long been the control point for identity in healthcare. Tap-and-go workflows, fast user switching, and secure access to clinical systems are foundational. What is new here is where that identity is applied. With IGEL, the badge tap now flows directly into a browser session. Chromium or Microsoft Edge becomes integrated into the identity fabric of the desktop experience. And that browser is immediately authenticated using modern standards like SAML and OAuth.

This means applications such as:

• Microsoft 365
• SharePoint
• Web-based EHR components
• SaaS clinical and operational tools

are accessible instantly, without using VDI to publish the browser as an application, without the need for additional tools. 

A Native Experience for EHRs, Office 365 and SharePoint

Consider a common scenario. A clinician taps their badge at a shared workstation. Within seconds, they are inside the patient record, Microsoft 365. Outlook, SharePoint, Teams. All web-based tools are already authenticated. No additional prompts. No secondary logins. Although not every EHR solution is fully web enabled, some, such as Meditech are, and others have clearly stated this direction.

Before today, this was only available with Imprivata on windows endpoint devices. Those devices are not always the most secure or effective solution to access these workflows. This experience is made possible because Imprivata Web SSO now integrates directly with IGEL OS and passes authentication context directly into the browser session using SAML or OAuth.

This happens natively within Chromium or Edge browsers on IGEL.  There is no dependency on the latest hardware endpoint. No need to persist credentials locally. The session exists in the browser, backed by identity, and governed by policy.  It is a clean handshake between identity and application, with seamless rapid switching between users. 

Built for Shared Workstations

Shared devices are where this model matters most. These are not personal devices. They are rapid access points to clinical systems and data used by many clinicians throughout a work shift. IGEL is purpose-built for this reality. It supports shared workstation workflows including fast user switching and badge-based authentication that align with “tap, turn, and treat” clinical patterns.

By delivering SSO into the browser, those workflows become even more direct – tap badge, access all web-based applications instantly. No desktop loading. No windows profiles or generically logged in windows session and no session start-up delay.

The Endpoint, Simplified

The real shift is not only in authentication. It is in the role of the endpoint itself. IGEL operates as an immutable Endpoint OS, reducing security concerns around endpoint outages and compromises.

• It is read-only
• It stores no local data
• It only runs validated, modular applications and components

That means every shared workstation starts from the same known state. Every session is isolated. Every user switch clears the environment completely.

A Foundation for Modern Clinical Workspaces

The direction of travel is clear. Applications are increasingly web-based. Identity is federated. Access is governed by zero trust principles. By supporting Imprivata Web SSO natively in the browser on IGEL, organizations can align shared workstation strategies with that reality. Microsoft 365 and SharePoint become first-class clinical tools, SaaS applications integrate seamlessly into badge workflows, and legacy dependencies on persistent desktops can be reduced over time.  And importantly, this does not require a full redesign. IGEL integrates with existing VDI and DaaS environments, extending them where needed and simplifying them where possible.

Closing Thought

Healthcare shared workstation access has always balanced three forces: speed of access, security, and safety of patient data. What this announcement represents is a shift in how that balance is achieved.  Identity remains fast and is now browser enabled, access remains seamless. Workflows are consistent and secure. The endpoint becomes a stable, secure, invisible foundation for shared workstation clinical access. Learn more about IGEL’s Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform in Healthcare.